Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Objective
This study was designed to examine whether residents living in neighborhoods that are less conducive to walking or other physical activities are more likely to develop diabetes and, if so, whether recent immigrants are particularly susceptible to such effects.Research design and methods
We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study to assess the impact of neighborhood walkability on diabetes incidence among recent immigrants (n = 214,882) relative to long-term residents (n = 1,024,380). Adults aged 30-64 years who were free of diabetes and living in Toronto, Canada, on 31 March 2005 were identified from administrative health databases and followed until 31 March 2010 for the development of diabetes, using a validated algorithm. Neighborhood characteristics, including walkability and income, were derived from the Canadian Census and other sources.Results
Neighborhood walkability was a strong predictor of diabetes incidence independent of age and area income, particularly among recent immigrants (lowest [quintile 1 {Q1}] vs. highest [quintile 5 {Q5}] walkability quintile: relative risk [RR] 1.58 [95% CI 1.42-1.75] for men; 1.67 [1.48-1.88] for women) compared with long-term residents (Q1 to Q5) 1.32 [1.26-1.38] for men; 1.24 [1.18-1.31] for women). Coexisting poverty accentuated these effects; diabetes incidence varied threefold between recent immigrants living in low-income/low walkability areas (16.2 per 1,000) and those living in high-income/high walkability areas (5.1 per 1,000).Conclusions
Neighborhood walkability was inversely associated with the development of diabetes in our setting, particularly among recent immigrants living in low-income areas.
SUBMITTER: Booth GL
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3554289 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Booth Gillian L GL Creatore Maria I MI Moineddin Rahim R Gozdyra Peter P Weyman Jonathan T JT Matheson Flora I FI Glazier Richard H RH
Diabetes care 20120917 2
<h4>Objective</h4>This study was designed to examine whether residents living in neighborhoods that are less conducive to walking or other physical activities are more likely to develop diabetes and, if so, whether recent immigrants are particularly susceptible to such effects.<h4>Research design and methods</h4>We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study to assess the impact of neighborhood walkability on diabetes incidence among recent immigrants (n = 214,882) relative to long- ...[more]